Written Answers Friday 29 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Bridges

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between 4 and 31 May 2007 involving Scottish ministers and Executive officials in relation to the effect on traffic congestion in Edinburgh and the Lothians of the abolition of tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministerial appointments were confirmed by Parliament on 17 May 2007. There were no meetings in relation to the abolition of tolls and effects of this prior to then.

  Since then, there have been three comprehensive and wide ranging meetings between Scottish ministers and Executive officials to generally discuss the abolition of the tolls from the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-742 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, what future funding proposals it has received in relation to the New Arts Sponsorship Awards Scheme.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-742 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, what considerations will determine its decision in relation to the New Arts Sponsorship Awards Scheme.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-742 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will be in a position to detail its decision about future funding in relation to the New Arts Sponsorship Scheme.

Linda Fabiani: I have received a proposal for the continuation of the Arts and Business scheme, which I am considering at present. Funding for the present financial year has been distributed already, and I do not anticipate making any announcement about funding for financial year 2008-09 in the near future.

Football

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships will commence.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it expects the feasibility study to take on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will conduct the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether footballing organisations and representatives will have a role in the conduct of the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships will cost.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects the Parliament to have in the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.

Stewart Maxwell: Discussions are still at a very early stage and the views and advice of key stakeholders, including the SFA and EventScotland, will be sought before a feasibility study of a Scottish bid for the 2016 European football championships is undertaken.

  However, the Scottish Government believes that the 2016 European football championships would be a great event for Scotland as they would boost Scotland’s profile on the world stage, provide long-lasting benefits to Scotland’s sporting infrastructure and provide a catalyst to increased sports participation leading to health benefits.

Football

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much weight will be given to the views of footballing organisations and representatives in any decision on a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  I will be discussing a possible Scotland bid for the 2016 European football championships with football organisations in due course.

Football

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Minister for Communities and Sport’s position is on the level of ambition shown by any footballing organisations or representatives that do not support a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.

Stewart Maxwell: I cannot comment on the level of ambition shown by any other organisations, including footballing organisations, that do not support a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.

Inter-Governmental Links

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor its co-operation agreement with the Northern Ireland Assembly government.

Linda Fabiani: Progress across the areas for co-operation outlined in the joint statement will be routinely monitored by Scottish ministers and reviewed by the end of the year.

Inter-Governmental Links

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for monitoring its co-operation agreement with the Northern Ireland Assembly government.

Linda Fabiani: The First Minister will review progress on the joint statement he signed with the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-732 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will publish its strategy for international development.

Linda Fabiani: Ministers are considering the role Scotland plays in international development and will inform Parliament of the outcome in due course.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-735 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when the Joint Commission to monitor the Scotland-Malawi Co-operation Agreement will next meet; where it will meet, and who will participate in the meeting.

Linda Fabiani: The next meeting of the Joint Commission will take place in Malawi in July 2007. The Joint Commission will be attended by senior officials from the Scottish Executive and representatives from relevant government ministries in Malawi.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ministers, or local authority councillors acting as a planning authority, can delegate their powers and duties to make planning decisions to other parties or individuals who are not Scottish ministers or local authority councillors.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Section 56(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 provides:

  "Subject to any express provision contained in this Act or any Act passed after this Act, a local authority may arrange for the discharge of any of their functions by a committee of the authority, a sub-committee, an officer of the authority or by any other local authority in Scotland."

  This would enable for functions of a planning authority to be discharged by an officer of the authority.

  The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 will, when in force, require each planning authority to draw up a scheme of delegation to allow decisions to be made by its officers. It prohibits, however, delegation of certain cases of application requiring enhanced scrutiny.

  Scottish ministers can, under general administrative legal principles, also delegate their decision-making functions to officials.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish ministers, or local authority councillors acting as a planning authority, can delegate their powers and duties to make planning decisions to the people of a local community through a referendum.

Stewart Stevenson: The decision has, by law, to be made by the local authority but there may be a benefit in having knowledge of community views obtained via a referendum in certain cases.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish ministers or local authority councillors could be directed to a determination of a planning application by the outcome of a local referendum.

Stewart Stevenson: The views of the local community and public opinion may, however, carry some weight in the decision making process as material considerations but cannot legally direct the determination.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of any petition which is submitted to planning officials, local authority councillors or the Scottish Ministers in favour of or opposed to any planning application when a planning application is being considered.

Stewart Stevenson: As indicated in my response to S3W-419, the views of the local community and public opinion may carry some weight in the decision making process as material considerations. It is for the planning authority to determine, in the particular circumstances of the case, the extent to which representations, in whatever form, are material considerations and the weight to be attached to each. The authority should have regard to Scottish Planning Policy 1 in reaching such a determination.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the impact of any proposal to allow local referenda to determine certain types of planning applications would have any implications for human rights in relation to the rights of individuals who could not participate in referenda for the applications to which they objected.

Stewart Stevenson: The implications of any such proposal would depend on the details of that proposal.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a local referendum to determine planning matters can meet the strict requirements on those deciding planning applications to consider only those matters required in law in respect of planning applications.

Stewart Stevenson: Local referenda can provide a material consideration for planning decisions but not require a particular determination.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority councillor, who declares a principled opposition to particular types of development which may become the subject of planning applications, can thereafter take part in any consideration of any planning application concerning that type of development.

Stewart Stevenson: Councillors hold public office under the law and must observe the rules of conduct stemming from the law, the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and any guidance from the Standards Commission and the rules, standing orders and regulations of the relevant council.

  Guidance from the Standards Commission for Scotland accompanying the Councillors’ Code of Conduct sets out that where a councillor has a responsibility - either at a committee or at the council - for dealing with planning applications, then he or she must not have - or be seen to have - prejudged any application before the proper occasion for deciding on the application, that is when all the relevant material considerations will be before the meeting that will determine the application. It is a matter for the council to determine membership of its committees.

  If it is perceived that a councillor has breached the Code of Conduct, the matter may be referred to the Chief Investigating Officer for consideration.

Public Transport

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between 4 and 31 May 2007 involving Scottish ministers and Executive officials to discuss the projected financial cost of the planned Edinburgh tram network.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been several meetings between ministers and officials to discuss a range of transport issues.

Public Transport

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected financial cost of the planned Edinburgh tram network was on 4 May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: At 4 May 2007 the estimated cost of the Edinburgh Tram network lay in the range £500 to 545 million.

Public Transport

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected financial cost of the planned Edinburgh tram network was on 31 May 2007.

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the planned Edinburgh tram network on 31 May 2007 were within projected estimates.

Stewart Stevenson: No new cost estimate was received from City of Edinburgh Council, promoter of the Edinburgh Tram Network, between 4 May and 31 May 2007. The cost estimate is reviewed regularly as part of normal project monitoring by Transport Scotland.

Public Transport

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the planned Edinburgh tram network on 4 May 2007 were within projected estimates.

Stewart Stevenson: At 4 May 2007, the estimated cost of the Edinburgh Tram network lay in the range £500 to 545 million and was within project estimates.

Rail Network

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between 4 and 31 May 2007 involving Scottish ministers and Executive officials to discuss the projected financial cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been several meetings between ministers and officials to discuss a range of transport issues.

Rail Network

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected financial cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link was on 4 May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: At 4 May 2007 the estimated cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link lay in the range £550 to £650 million.

Rail Network

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected financial cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link was on 31 May 2007.

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link on 31 May 2007 were within projected estimates.

Stewart Stevenson: No new cost estimate was received from TIE ltd, promoter of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, between 4 May and 31 May 2007. The cost estimate is reviewed regularly as part of normal project monitoring by Transport Scotland.

Rail Network

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link on 4 May 2007 were within projected estimates.

Stewart Stevenson: At 4 May 2007 the estimated cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link lay in the range £550 to £650 million and was within project estimates.

Rail Network

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, whether the Minister is aware of the statement by Fiona Hyslop on 28 March 2007 that the SNP has made a public commitment to legislate for and fund the building of the Blackridge station ( Official Report c. 33642) and whether he will now reconsider his answer.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government wishes to see Blackridge station delivered on the understanding that this will be at minimum additional cost to the public purse. We expect substantial contributions to the cost to be made by property developers whose business will benefit from the provision of a station.

Road Accidents

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into the connection between drivers’ sleepiness or falling asleep at the wheel and road traffic accidents.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no current plans to do so. The future economic and social research programme for transport, which includes road safety, is currently being developed and is expected to be finalised by September.

  The UK Government has been conducting research into sleep-related road accidents for over 10 years and has published reports on a number of studies.

Road Accidents

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of research undertaken by police in Leicester regarding the connection between road traffic accidents and sleepiness.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is not aware of research undertaken by police in Leicester. We are, however, aware of the work of the Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Centre on aspects of driver sleepiness and road traffic accidents.

Sport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-373 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 June 2007, whether its commitment to implement in full the Reaching Higher national sport strategy includes endorsement of the strategy’s view that key sporting agencies can only benefit from working together and sharing expertise with UK partners.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish government endorses the sport strategy Reaching Higher  published in March 2007. Sporting agencies currently work in partnership with each other both in Scotland and across a wider UK context as appropriate for the benefit of their sport.

  However, I have also been clear that I intend to convene a meeting with stakeholders as soon as possible to discuss issues around Scotland’s representation on the world sporting stage. As part of this discussion we will consider the feasibility of a Scottish Olympic team.